BYU Soccer's Jaiden Thornock set to begin her senior season

BYU soccer player Jaiden Thornock has been playing soccer (and dreaming of playing soccer) for a long time.

Thornock told John Coon of the Deseret News, "My mom asked me when I was 3 years old what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said a soccer player.  Ever since I was a little girl, it's something I've wanted to grow up and be.  A dream of mine forever, I guess."

And a soccer player is exactly what Thornock has become, and a pretty good one at that.  While playing for Bonneville High School in Ogden, Utah, she helped the team to three 4A State championship games, winning the title twice.  Recruited with scholarship offers from several schools, Thornock's choice to play for the Cougars was a simple one.  She says that BYU was "where I wanted to be and where I belonged."

Thornock's first goal as a cougar came in the second game of the season against Utah in 2011. Over the course of her three years as a Cougar, Thornock has played in 63 games, taking 124 shots for 12 goals and 8 assists.  The same time has seen much success for the Cougars, who have gone 46-12-6 over the past three seasons.

Thornock's highlights from last season include her game winning goal in a comeback win against Oklahoma and a late-season goal against Weber State that would help the Cougars advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Thornock credits her success to her teammates, describing the team as a family.  And when asked in an interview with BYUtv Sports about which game was her favorite to play in last season, she quickly names the one against LMU-a game she did not score in-but which saw her team win the West Coast Conference championship.

You can catch the Cougars tonight at South Field where they will play their annual alumni game.  Their first regular season game is against Cal State Fullerton on Aug 22, then back at home on Aug 25 to host Washington State at 5:30 MDT.

Follow BYU Soccer on Twitter @byusoccer_w and Jaiden Thornock  @Jaidenmt